Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 1 eBook

that car with Salwa on it! Ye Yadavas, this day,
I shall, with my weapons like unto serpents discharged
from my bow with my hand, destroy this host of the
lord of Saubha! Be of good cheer, ye all!
Fear not! The lord of Saubha will be slain today!
Attached by me, the wretch will meet with destruction
together with his car!” O son of Pandu, upon
Pradyumna speaking thus with cheerful heart, the Yadava
host, O hero, remained on the field, and began to fight
cheerfully!’”

SECTION XVII

“Vasudeva continued, ’O bull of the Bharata
race, having spoken thus unto the Yadavas, the son
of Rukmini (Pradyumna) ascended his golden car.
And the car he rode was drawn by excellent steeds in
mail. And over it stood a standard bearing the
figure of a Makara with gaping mouth and fierce
as Yama. And with his steeds, more flying than
running on the ground, he rushed against the foe.
And the hero equipped with quiver and sword, with
fingers cased in leather, twanged his bow possessed
of the splendour of the lightning, with great strength,
and transferring it from hand to hand, as if in contempt
of the enemy, spread confusion among the Danavas and
other warriors of the city of Saubha. And as hot
in contempt of the foe, and continuously slew the Danavas
in battle, no one could mark the slightest interval
between his successive shafts. And the colour
of his face changed not, and his limbs trembled not.
And people only heard his loud leonine roars indicative
of wonderful valour. And the aquatic monster
with mouth wide open, that devourer of all fishes,
placed on golden flag-staff of that best of cars, struck
terror into the hearts of Salwa’s warriors.
And, O king, Pradyumna, the mower of foes rushed with
speed against Salwa himself so desirous of an encounter!
And, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, braved by the
heroic Pradyumna in that mighty battle, the angry
Salwa could ill bear the challenge! And that
conqueror of hostile cities, Salwa, maddened by anger,
descended from his beautiful car of unchecked speed,
resolved to encounter Pradyumna. And the people
beheld the fight between Salwa and the foremost of
Vrishni heroes, which was even like unto the encounter
between Vasava with Vali. And, O hero, mounting
on his beautiful car decked with gold and furnished
with flags and flag-staffs and quivers, the illustrious
and mighty Salwa began to discharge his arrows at
Pradyumna! Pradyumna also by the energy of his
arms, overwhelmed Salwa in the combat by a thick shower
of arrows. The king of Saubha, however, thus
attacked in battle by Pradyumna, endured him not, but
discharged at my son arrows that were like blazing
fire. But the mighty Pradyumna parried off that
arrowy shower. Beholding this, Salwa rained on
my son other weapons of blazing splendour. Then,
O foremost of monarchs, pierced by the shafts of Salwa,
the son of Rukmini discharged without loss of time
an arrow that was capable of entering the vitals of